Developments in land‑use patterns across Europe are generating considerable concern, particularly in relation to achievement of environmental goals. Land‑use trends — such as urban sprawl and land abandonment — are jeopardising the future for sustainable land use. Moreover, these trends endanger the achievement of European environmental goals in areas such as biodiversity protection and water management and also hinder the effectiveness of instruments in these areas, including the Natura 2000 network and the Water Framework Directive.

River basins, lakes, floodplains and marshes often span political and administrative boundaries. This creates challenges in the management of Europe's water resources, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), which recommends better integration of coordinated spatial planning and water management.

This report considers the links between water
management in the EU — especially the
implementation of the Water Framework Directive
(WFD) — and territorial cohesion (1), in the
perspective of spatial analysis (2) and spatial
planning (3). It looks at the role of spatial analysis
and planning for the implementation of the Directive
as well as related provisions such as the Floods Directive and the development and implementation
of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). It
considers links between Regional Policy (4) and
water management in the EU, including the
lessons from a spatial perspective. It further looks
at cross‑country cooperation, a key element of
both the WFD and territorial cohesion and finally
considers future challenges for implementation of
the Directive and the development of RBMPs, in
particular considering the spatial context.

Europe's coastal regions are increasingly vital for its economy, yet their natural assets on which it depends continue to degrade. This is according to a new report from the European Environment Agency, which calls for better information, planning and management decisions to balance multiple demands on the coastal environment.